ALEXANDRE GREGOIRE (Haitian, 1922-2001). Figure on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Oil. Signed at base. A dark-skinned, muscular man is shown kneeling or crouching upon a stone pedestal/tomband is holding a conch shell (a lambí in Creole) to his lips. The conch shell is a powerful symbol in Haitian history and Vodou. He is on a multi-tiered, light-colored stone structure that resembles a tomb or monument and has the Coat of Arms of Haiti. Signed. Framed.
ARTIST PROFILE : Alexandre Gregoire (1922-2001) was a prominent Haitian painter considered one of the last of the 20th-century "primitive" or Naïve artists. Born in Jacmel, he spent much of his adult life in the military, serving as a musician playing the tuba and saxophone in the army and later the National Palace band until 1968. Encouraged by fellow artists Préfète Duffaut and Pierre-Joseph Valcin, Grégoire began painting relatively late in life at the Centre d'Art in Port-au-Prince. His distinct style, characterized by its playful humor and pure composition, typically depicted scenes of Vodou ceremonies, Haitian daily life, and historical events. His work is held in major collections, including the Musée d'Art Haïtien, and reflects his philosophy: "My life is a prayer and the painting is a sister to the prayer." . - 16 x 20 inches; frame: 20 x 24 inches Estimate $250-350
